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China, India, the United States, Russia and North Korea each keep more than 1.3 million people in uniform. Here's how the biggest armed forces rank in 2026.

The United States, Russia and China lead Global Firepower's 2026 ranking, followed by India and South Korea. What puts each country where it is.

Germany's military spending rose 24% in 2025 and Spain's 50%. How Europe's biggest militaries are changing, by the numbers.

The US spends about $716,000 per active service member a year; North Korea about $4,000. What spending per soldier reveals about the quality of a military.

Global military spending reached $2,887 billion in 2025. The US spent $954 billion, more than the next six countries combined. The full top 15 from SIPRI.

Ukraine spends 40% of its GDP on defence. Israel, Russia and Saudi Arabia are above 6%. Military burden by country, and why it matters more than raw dollars.

Of about 9,745 nuclear warheads in military stockpiles, roughly 4,012 are deployed. What deployed, stored and retired warheads are, and why the difference matters.

Nine countries hold an estimated 9,745 nuclear warheads in military stockpiles. Russia and the US hold most of them, and China's arsenal is growing fastest.

The US has 83 destroyers, China 53 and Japan 41. What separates a destroyer from a frigate or corvette, and which countries have the most of each.

The US and Russia each have 66 submarines and China 61. But nuclear and diesel boats are very different weapons. Submarine fleets by country in 2026.

China has the most warships with 841 vessels, ahead of Russia and the US. Why fleet size and naval power are not the same thing.

The US operates 11 aircraft carriers, nearly as many as every other navy combined. Every country with a carrier in 2026, and what each one can do.

The US has 1,791 fighters and China 1,443, with Russia third. Fighter fleets by country in 2026, and why counting them is harder than it looks.

The US has 610 aerial refuelling tankers; no other country we track has more than 22. Why support aircraft decide what an air force can really do.

The US operates 13,032 military aircraft, more than Russia, China and India combined. The biggest air fleets by country, and what's in them.

Russia has more artillery than any country we track, with South Korea a surprise second. Self-propelled, towed and rocket artillery by country in 2026.

China, Russia and North Korea each field close to 5,000 or more tanks. Tank fleets by country in 2026, and how the war in Ukraine changed the debate.

China has the world's largest navy by ship count, about 620 nuclear warheads and the second-largest military budget. Where its build-up stands in 2026.

Eight of NATO's largest members spent $1.39 trillion on defence in 2025, seven times Russia's $190 billion. How the balance looks with and without the US.

China outspends Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia combined by about two to one. How the Asia-Pacific military balance looks in 2026.

Saudi Arabia outspends Iran more than ten to one, Egypt has the most tanks and Israel the only nuclear arsenal. How the region's five big militaries compare.

Global Firepower scores 145 countries on more than 60 factors, where 0.0000 is a perfect score. How its PowerIndex works, and its strengths and limits.

Ukraine lists 4 million reservists, South Korea 3.1 million, and India 2.5 million paramilitary personnel. Why the troops not on active duty can matter most.